Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-11-10

President Marvin HughiTt, OF the
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.
and President w. b. Strong OF the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the
heads of the two great railroads OF
the country, started as telegraph op'
orators. The latter began as oper.
ator at Milton, Wis, on the old Mil.
waukee and st. Paul Railroad, and
the former at q small station on the
Chicago and Alton Railroad. These
are the only two big railroaders out
here who started on their career from
the keyboard. There are dozen Of
the most prominent men in the pro-
fession, railroad presidents most Of
them, who graduated from the civil
engineering department. President
Newell, OF the Lake Shore, began as a
rodman. SO did President Roberts,
of the Pennsylvania system. He
helped carry the chain for the
engineers who built the Erie
road. Hugh Riddle, for so many
years at the head OF the Rock Island
and now q member of the Executive
Committee, grew up from the civil en-
cheering department. General Man
ager II. j. Potter, of the Union Pacific,
was u lineman before he became q
country station agent on the b. Il nj.
Railroad. President T. B. Blackstone,
of the Chicago and Alton, began his
railroading by acting as roadman on
the New York & New Haven road.
The late S. S. Merrill, who was given
higher rank than almost any other
Western raidroader, didn't begin even
as humble member OF the civil en-.
geneering corps. He started in on q
gravel train rs conductor. That
was on the old Prairie du Chen road.
j. G. Clarke, OF the Illinois Central,
who has just retired from the presid.
ency, was fireman on an engine. A.
C. Bird, one OF the best esteemed men
on the st. Paul. began as truckman
in the baggage-room OF the st. Louis
and Indianapolis Railroad. Com
missioner Midgley, OF the Southwest
ern pool, the highest priced commits
sioner outside OF New York, began his
experience with railroads as stenog-
rapher in the Illinois Central Offices.
Commissioner George X. Blanchard,
of the Central Traffic pool, is one
OF the large number who began as
% clerk in the freight Of
fees. Nice-President Galloway, who
has just left the Union Pacific, was
years ago freight clerk for the Grand
Trunk. Elijah Smith, of the O. T.,
began as n clerk for the chairman of
the Board OF Direct ors OF the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy. General
Passenger Agent Ruggles graduated
from clerkship in q freight Office,
and Treasurer Purdy, now vice resi-
dent OF the Rock Island, years ago got
about $50 a month for keeping books
and occasionally helping with the
freight in the Illinois Central Offices.
superintendent Jeffrey, of the Illinois
Central, started in as an Office boy in
the sos. President Jim Hill, of the
Manitoba, was local agent for ten
Hannaford, the general freight agent
of the Northern Pacific, was once
drawing the salary of q $S00-n-year
freight clerk. Commissioner George
f.. Daniels was rodman in his early
railroad days. Division Superintend.
ent Chamberlain, one of the best liked
men on the Rock Island, began his
life on the rail as conductor on the
New York Third avenue street rail.
way line. Horace Tucker, now the
general freight agent of the Illinois
Central, and General Manager +. st.
John OF the Rock Island, both began
by helping in the ticket Offices OF
small roads. gei rs 4